Hal Scales was born on September 4, 1917, in Greenwood, Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 14, 1935, and served aboard the light cruiser USS Memphis (CL-13) before entering flight training in 1938. Scales was designated a Naval Aviator as an enlisted pilot in March 1939, and then served as an enlisted pilot until being commissioned an Ensign in May 1942. He served as an acceptance test pilot at NAS Floyd Bennet Field, New York, from May 1942 to July 1943, and then as an F6F-3 Hellcat pilot with VF-31 at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, from July 1943 to November 1943. He deployed with his squadron aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Cabot (CVL-28) in November 1943, and served in combat aboard that ship from January to September 1944, remaining with VF-31 until November 1944. During this time LT Scales was credited with the destruction of 6.2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. He served briefly with Commander, Air Force, Atlantic Fleet from November to December 1944, and then served as Commanding Officer of Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 21 from December 1944 to August 1945. He remained at Carrier Aircraft service Unit 21 from August 1945 to February 1946, and then served with Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 3 from February 1946 to February 1947. His next assignment was with Fleet Air Wing 3 from February 1947 to June 1948, followed by service with U.S. Naval Air Activities, Severn River Naval Command, at Annapolis, Maryland, from June 1948 to March 1950. LCDR Scales served as Officer in Charge of U.S. Naval Technical Training Unit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March to December 1950, and then as ship's company aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Saipan (CVL-48) from December 1950 to August 1952. He attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, to complete his bachelor's degree from August 1952 to June 1954, and he then served at NAAS Kingsville, Texas, from June to August 1954. CDR Scales next attended U.S. Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California, from August 1954 to May 1955, followed by service as Executive Officer with Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 31 (VS-31) from May 1955 to June 1957. During this time he participated in a Mediterranean Deployment aboard the anti-submarine aircraft carrier USS Antietam (CVS-36) during the Suez Crisis in October 1956. He then served as Commanding Officer of VS-31 from June 1957 to October 1958, and during this time he deployed with his squadron for a Mediterranean Deployment aboard the anti-submarine aircraft carrier USS Leyte (CVS-32) during the Lebanon Crisis from July to October 1958. His next assignment was with the Bureau of Ordnance with Headquarters U.S. Navy at the Pentagon, from October 1958 to December 1959, followed by service with the Bureau of Naval Weapons with Headquarters U.S. Navy at the Pentagon from December 1959 until his retirement from the U.S. Navy on January 1, 1961. Hal Scales Flew West on September 15, 1995, and was buried at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.

His 2nd (of 3) Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Pilot of a Plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY-ONE, attached to the U.S.S. CABOT, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, September 13, 1944. Participating in the first fighter sweep over this area, Lieutenant Scales pressed home a perilously low altitude attack through intense antiaircraft fire to shoot down two of the four enemy planes accounted for by his division. After eliminating the air opposition, he led his flight in a strafing attack against the airfield and skillfully set fire to and destroyed a parked enemy plane. His courage, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.